Gerrymandering: How Political Parties Use it to Cheat the Vote

By Jon David

Gerrymandering is a term that refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another. It is a practice that has been used for centuries by politicians who want to secure their power and influence, regardless of the will of the voters. Gerrymandering can have serious consequences for our voting system, as it can undermine the principle of one person, one vote, and create uncompetitive and unrepresentative districts.

So, how does gerrymandering work? The process of drawing electoral district boundaries is usually done by the state legislatures, which are often controlled by one of the two major parties in the US: the Democrats or the Republicans. The Democrats or the Republicans can use various techniques to create districts that give them an advantage over their opponents. For example, they can:

• Pack: This means concentrating as many voters of the opposing party as possible into a few districts, so that they win those districts by a large margin but waste their votes and have less influence in other districts.
• Crack: This means to split up voters of the opposing party among several districts, so that they are outnumbered by the voters of the dominant party in each district and have no chance of winning any seats.
• Kidnap: This means to redraw the boundaries of a district that is held by an incumbent of the opposing party, so that they are moved to a different district where they have less support or face a stronger challenger from the dominant party.
• Hijack: This means to redraw the boundaries of two districts that are held by incumbents of the same party, so that they are forced to run against each other in a single district, and one of them has to lose their seat.

These techniques can result in districts that have bizarre and irregular shapes, as they follow no natural or logical boundaries, but only serve the interests of the party in power. For example, some of the most notorious examples of gerrymandered districts in the US include:

• Maryland’s 3rd congressional district, which has been described as a “praying mantis” or a “blood spatter”.
• Illinois’s 4th congressional district, which has been called a “pair of earmuffs” or a “Latin snake”.
• Texas’s 35th congressional district, which has been likened to a “upside-down Chinese dragon” or a “windshield wiper”.
• North Carolina’s 12th congressional district, which has been dubbed a “I-85 corridor” or a “ribbon”.

What are the effects of gerrymandering? Gerrymandering can have negative impacts on both the quality and the quantity of representation in a democracy. Some of the effects include:

• Reduced accountability: Gerrymandering can create safe seats for incumbents, who face little or no competition from challengers, and therefore have less incentive to respond to the needs and preferences of their constituents. They can also become more ideologically extreme, as they only have to appeal to their base voters, and not to moderates or independents.
• Reduced diversity: Gerrymandering can reduce the diversity of representation in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and ideology. It can dilute the voting power of minority groups, who may be packed or cracked into districts where they have no voice or influence. It can also create homogeneous districts that reflect only one point of view, and exclude alternative perspectives and opinions.
• Reduced participation: Gerrymandering can reduce the participation and engagement of voters, who may feel discouraged or disillusioned by the lack of choice and competition in their districts. They may also feel that their votes do not matter or count, as they are predetermined by the partisan mapmakers. This can lead to lower turnout and civic involvement.

How can gerrymandering be prevented or reformed? There are several ways to address the problem of gerrymandering and improve the fairness and integrity of electoral districts. Some of these include:

• Independent commissions: Some states have adopted independent or bipartisan commissions to draw electoral district boundaries, instead of leaving it to the state legislatures. These commissions are composed of citizens or experts who are not affiliated with any political party or candidate, and who follow certain criteria and guidelines to ensure impartiality and transparency.
• Judicial oversight: Some states have challenged gerrymandered maps in court, based on constitutional or statutory grounds. The courts can intervene and invalidate maps that violate certain principles or rights, such as equal protection, voting rights, compactness, contiguity, or community of interest.
• Public input: Some states have allowed public input and participation in the redistricting process, such as through public hearings, online platforms, or citizen initiatives. This can increase the awareness and involvement of voters in how their districts are drawn and provide feedback and suggestions to improve the quality and representation of their districts.
• Technology: Some states have used technology and software tools to assist in the redistricting process, such as geographic information systems (GIS), computer algorithms, or online mapping applications. These tools can help generate and evaluate different districting plans, based on various criteria and objectives, and provide data and analysis to support decision-making and oversight.

Gerrymandering is a serious threat to the Republic of the United States of America, as it can distort and manipulate the will of the people and create unfair and unresponsive representation. It is important to reform and prevent gerrymandering and ensure that electoral district boundaries are drawn in a fair and transparent manner that reflects the interests and values of the voters, not the politicians.